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Topic: The Official NBA/Basketball Thread (Read 9078 times)

For the first time that the NBA All-Star Game had been held outside of Canada, the city of Toronto did not disappoint. Not even the sub-zero Arctic cold snap could dampen the enthusiasm the city showed for this classic showcase.

From the international media throng, to Mayor Tory honoueing Drake and presenting him with the Keys to the City, from Steph Curry returning to the city of his schooldays, from an emotional Kobe Bryant as the fans chanted his name, not wanting him to ever leave (he was playing in the last All-Star Game of his illustrious 20 year career), from the Slam Dunk contest where Zach Levine & Aaron Gordon (literally) took it to new heights, and the Three Point competition where Klay Thompson eked out teammate Steph Curry as the winner, from Sring's performance at the half of the All-Star Game, which by the way, was the highest-scoring one in NBA history (West 197-176 over the East), and on and on and on.....

“To the people of Toronto, Canada, and all of Canada as a country, thanks for welcoming our league with open and warm arms,” said LeBron James, who knows Toronto as well as any NBA player. “Even though the weather wasn’t as warm, the arms and the love from everyone here has been well received."

The first NBA All-Star Weekend held outside the United States will be remembered for the best dunk contest since Vince Carter himself was putting the Raptors on the map in 2000, with Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon dunking over a mascot spinning on a hoverboard earning consideration as one of the greatest single dunks of all time.

And it will be remembered for Kobe Bryant’s long goodbye; the place where the 20-year NBA veteran played the last of his 18 straight all-star game...

“I think everybody got the feel of the energy that we witness every single night when we play as Raptors players,” DeRozan said. “I think all the guys really got insight on how in tune the city of Toronto and all of Canada is to basketball. So I think just the energy. I think all the guys really enjoyed it.”

Said Lowry: “I think tonight it capped a great weekend; the Slam Dunk, Three-Point Contest, tonight being Kobe’s last all-star game, record set by Paul and Russ getting back-to-back MVP. But Toronto, I think we put ourselves on the map a little bit around the world.”

“This is the NBA, it’s our biggest stage,” said James. “It’s the most media coverage that we’re going to get. We have all the greatest athletes and greatest fanshere in one venue, and it’s always an honour to be here.

“I’m going to enjoy the city,” James said as the weekend got underway. “It’s an unbelievable city. I love being here. I’ve always enjoyed being here. So I’m going to enjoy it, and then get ready for the second half of the season.”

But did anything change this weekend?

“I don’t think you can say that, and that’s a good thing. Toronto didn’t need the all-star game to announce itself to the league. The league knows all about Toronto and has for a while.”

The 2916 All-Star event in Toronto seen in 215 countries and broke a few barriiers for the NBA. An internationally-held All-Star Game could be in the works. At some point, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver...

That was his 12th 3-pointer of the game (ties the NBA record also held by former Raptor Donyell Marshall and Kobe Bryant). He also set the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a single season during this game. He now holds the #1, #2, and #3 best 3-point shooting seasons in the history of the league. He is completely unguardable at this point.

Firstly, Kobe in his final game scores 60 and guides the Lakers to a come from behind win. Sure it helps that he played 42 minutes and had his teammates feeding him the ball at every opportunity, but it's impressive nonetheless. What a way to go out.

And then the Warriors break the '95-'96 Bulls record for wins in a season with their 73rd. I don't think a championship is a foregone conclusion for them by any means though. I predict that they'll meet the Spurs in the Western Conference final and that should be a great, close series.

Nice way for Kobe to finish his career, even if it was on 50 shots. As for the Warriors, that's a damn impressive run. Seeing them face the Spurs in the WCF should be an interesting series. Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker seem to be treating this as 1 final run.